'Berry Beautiful; Winter strawberry season in full swing

Strawberry season in Florida typically runs from December through April, although the harvesting of berries begins in November and continues into May.

The total value of U.S. strawberry production in 2009 was $2.1 billion, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (agmrc.org). Florida's contribution, mainly of winter strawberries, accounted for $313 million, and 20 million flats were produced in 2008-09 alone. With 8,000 acres in production yearly, it is no wonder that Central Florida is the "Winter Strawberry Capital of the World."

Today, strawberries lead the small fruit crop in the U.S. They are farmed from Florida to Alaska, with Florida as one of the largest strawberry growing centers.

The major varieties of strawberries grown in Florida are Strawberry Festival (the most planted), Winter Dawn, Camarosa (the most productive variety in North Florida), Treasure and Carmine.

ON THE LEADING EDGE

The University of Florida-IFAS Strawberry Research Center has patented seven Florida varieties in less than a decade: the Sweet Charlie, Rosa Linda, the Earlibrite, Strawberry Festival, Carmine, Florida Radiance, Florida Elyana and Winter Dawn.

Nature Genetics (online publisher of genetics research) announced in December that an international team of scientists led by the University of Florida and Virginia Tech were the first to publish the DNA sequence for the strawberry -- a development expected to yield tastier, hardier varieties of the berry. This discovery will benefit the consumer by providing a better taste, more nutrition and better storage qualities of the berries.

Treasure: Developed by a private breeder in Naples, it tends to grow from late November through March. It has a deep burgundy color. It has a tart flavor and is firm, making it a good variety for shipping.

Winter Dawn: This variety was named for its tendency to show up very early in the season (end of November through February).

Florida Radiance: Developed in 2005, it consistently produced high early-season yields, and has maintained good fruit size throughout the main production. It is recommended for areas with mild winter climates.

Florida Elyana: Developed in 2007, it is moderately resistant to the two most serious disease problems on strawberries in Florida: Botrytis fruit rot and anthracnose fruit rot. "Florida Elyana" also appears to have resistance to crown rot. It is a short day plant that is smaller in size than Strawberry Festival, mentioned above.

NOTE: It is often difficult purchasing these strawberry varieties as most suppliers cater to growers ordering hundreds of thousands of plants at a time. The best option for homeowners is to order online with reputable dealers that offer licensed plants or at Parksdale Farms in Dover (Fla.), 813-659-0105.

Contact your local extension agent for further assistance on growing strawberries.